Energy production and storage technologies have attracted a great deal of attention for day-to-day applications. In recent decades, advances in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology have improved living conditions around the globe. LIBs are used in most mobile electronic devices as well as in zero-emission electronic vehicles. However, there are increasing concerns regarding load leveling of renewable energy sources and the smart grid as well as the sustainability of lithium sources due to their limited availability and consequent expected price increase. Therefore, whether LIBs alone can satisfy the rising demand for small- and/or mid-to-large-format energy storage applications remains unclear. To mitigate these issues, recent research has focused on alternative energy storage systems. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as the best candidate power sources because sodium is widely available and exhibits similar chemistry to that of LIBs; therefore, SIBs are promising next-generation alternatives. Recently, sodiated layer transition metal oxides, phosphates and organic compounds have been introduced as cathode materials for SIBs. Simultaneously, recent developments have been facilitated by the use of select carbonaceous materials, transition metal oxides (or sulfides), and intermetallic and organic compounds as anodes for SIBs. Apart from electrode materials, suitable electrolytes, additives, and binders are equally important for the development of practical SIBs. Despite developments in electrode materials and other components, there remain several challenges, including cell design and electrode balancing, in the application of sodium ion cells. In this article, we summarize and discuss current research on materials and propose future directions for SIBs. This will provide important insights into scientific and practical issues in the development of SIBs.

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Sodium-ion batteries: present and future

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Recent Advances in Zn-Ion Batteries

The complexity, diversity, and heterogeneity of tumors seriously undermine the therapeutic potential of treatment. Therefore, the current trend in clinical research has gradually shifted from a focus on monotherapy to combination therapy for enhanced treatment efficacy. More importantly, the cooperative enhancement interactions between several types of monotherapy contribute to the naissance of multimodal synergistic therapy, which results in remarkable superadditive (namely “1 + 1 > 2”) effects, stronger than any single therapy or their theoretical combination. In this review, state-of-the-art studies concerning recent advances in nanotechnology-mediated multimodal synergistic therapy will be systematically discussed, with an emphasis on the construction of multifunctional nanomaterials for realizing bimodal and trimodal synergistic therapy as well as the intensive exploration of the underlying synergistic mechanisms for explaining the significant improvements in synergistic therapeutic outcome. Furtherm...

Nanotechnology for Multimodal Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Although alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries have dominated the primary battery applications, it is challenging to make them rechargeable. Here we report a high-performance rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide system with an aqueous mild-acidic zinc triflate electrolyte. We demonstrate that the tunnel structured manganese dioxide polymorphs undergo a phase transition to layered zinc-buserite on first discharging, thus allowing subsequent intercalation of zinc cations in the latter structure. Based on this electrode mechanism, we formulate an aqueous zinc/manganese triflate electrolyte that enables the formation of a protective porous manganese oxide layer. The cathode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 225 mAh g−1 and long-term cyclability with 94% capacity retention over 2000 cycles. Remarkably, the pouch zinc-manganese dioxide battery delivers a total energy density of 75.2 Wh kg−1. As a result of the superior battery performance, the high safety of aqueous electrolyte, the facile cell assembly and the cost benefit of the source materials, this zinc-manganese dioxide system is believed to be promising for large-scale energy storage applications. The development of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries are challenging but promising for energy storage applications. With a mild-acidic triflate electrolyte, here the authors show a high-performance Zn-MnO2 battery in which the MnO2 cathode undergoes Zn2+ (de)intercalation.

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Rechargeable aqueous zinc-manganese dioxide batteries with high energy and power densities

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising energy storage devices due to their high safety and low cost. However, they remain in their infancy because of the limited choice of positive electrodes with high capacity and satisfactory cycling performance. Furthermore, their energy storage mechanisms are not well established yet. Here we report a highly reversible zinc/sodium vanadate system, where sodium vanadate hydrate nanobelts serve as positive electrode and zinc sulfate aqueous solution with sodium sulfate additive is used as electrolyte. Different from conventional energy release/storage in zinc-ion batteries with only zinc-ion insertion/extraction, zinc/sodium vanadate hydrate batteries possess a simultaneous proton, and zinc-ion insertion/extraction process that is mainly responsible for their excellent performance, such as a high reversible capacity of 380 mAh g–1 and capacity retention of 82% over 1000 cycles. Moreover, the quasi-solid-state zinc/sodium vanadate hydrate battery is also a good candidate for flexible energy storage device. Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries are promising energy storage devices but suffer from the limited choice of positive electrodes. Here Niu and co-workers show a design with sodium vanadate hydrate as cathode, allowing simultaneous proton and zinc-ion insertion/extraction and enhanced performance.

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Aqueous rechargeable zinc/sodium vanadate batteries with enhanced performance from simultaneous insertion of dual carriers.

The storage of electric energy is of ever growing importance for our modern, technology-based society, and novel battery systems are in the focus of research. The substitution of conventional metals as redox-active material by organic materials offers a promising alternative for the next generation of rechargeable batteries since these organic batteries are excelling in charging speed and cycling stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these systems and discusses the numerous classes of organic, polymer-based active materials as well as auxiliary components of the battery, like additives or electrolytes. Moreover, a definition of important cell characteristics and an introduction to selected characterization techniques is provided, completed by the discussion of potential socio-economic impacts.

Polymer-Based Organic Batteries

The application of organic carbonyl compounds as high performance electrode materials in secondary batteries enables access to metal-free, low-cost, environmental friendly, flexible, and functional rechargeable energy storage systems. Organic compounds have so far not received much attention as potential active materials in batteries, mainly because of the success of inorganic materials in both research and commercial applications. However, new requirements in secondary batteries such as flexibility accompanied with low production costs and environmental friendliness, in particular for portable devices, reach the limit of inorganic electrode materials. Organic carbonyl compounds represent the most promising materials to satisfy these needs. Here, recent efforts of the research in the field of organic carbonyl materials for secondary batteries are summarized, and the working principle and the structural design of different groups of carbonyl material is presented. Finally, the influence of conductive additives and binders on the cell performance is closely evaluated for each class of materials.

Carbonyls: Powerful Organic Materials for Secondary Batteries

An amphiphilic Ru-containing block copolymer is used as a photoactivated polymetallodrug for anticancer phototherapy. The block copolymer self-assembles into nanoparticles, which can accumulate at tumor sites in a mouse model. Red light irradiation of the block copolymer nanoparticles releases anticancer Ru complexes and generates cytotoxic 1 O2 , both of which can inhibit tumor growth.

An Amphiphilic Ruthenium Polymetallodrug for Combined Photodynamic Therapy and Photochemotherapy In Vivo

A novel redox-active polymer based on a 9,10-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) system in combination with a conjugated backbone was synthesized via rhodium (Rh)-catalyzed polymerization of 2-ethynyl(exTTF), leading to polymers with low polydispersities. Composite electrodes containing this polymer exhibited chemically reversible two-electron oxidation in aqueous media. The application of these electrodes as active cathode materials in hybrid zinc-organic batteries using an aqueous electrolyte enabled the production of air-stable charge storage systems with a theoretical capacity of 133 mAh g−1. These batteries featured high performance, charge/discharge rates of up to 120 C (30 s) and an ultra-long lifetime, of over 10 000 charge/discharge cycles (accompanied by a minor capacity loss of 14%). Finally, the polymer was compared with its nonconjugated derivative, revealing the positive influence of the conjugated backbone on the material activity owing to improved electron transfer within the polymer chain. Researchers in Germany have unlocked the secret to using water as an electrolyte in rechargeable batteries with a new conjugated polymer. Polymer batteries are flexible and lightweight, but a reliance on flammable organic solvents for electrolytes has raised concerns. Ulrich S. Schubert and colleagues synthesized a poly(acetylene)-based compound containing charge-active organosulphurs to improve battery safety while maintaining high performance. Water has a narrow range of stability under applied voltages, making it tricky to use as an electrolyte. The team's polymer, however, is capable of a reversible, two-electron oxidation reaction in this range. A prototype with the polymer cathode, a zinc anode and an aqueous electrolyte revealed the possibilities of this approach — the battery could be charged to its 1-volt potential within 30 seconds and had a lifetime exceeding 10,000 recharge cycles. The application of a conjugated polymer with 9,10-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) units as cathode and zinc as anode enables an aqueous-based hybrid organic battery. This energy storage device features ultra-high rate performance of up to a full charge in 30 s and an extended lifetime up to 10 000 cycles.

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Bernhard Häupler

Papers

Polymer-Based Organic Batteries

Carbonyls: Powerful Organic Materials for Secondary Batteries

An Amphiphilic Ruthenium Polymetallodrug for Combined Photodynamic Therapy and Photochemotherapy In Vivo

Aqueous zinc-organic polymer battery with a high rate performance and long lifetime

Synthesis and characterization of TEMPO- and viologen-polymers for water-based redox-flow batteries